Health status of young children with cancer following discontinuation of therapy

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Med. Pediatr. Oncol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/mpo.2950150102· OSTI ID:6614408

Pastore, G; Zurlo, M G; Acquaviva, A; Calculli, G; Castello, M; Ceci, A; Di Tullio, M L; Gandus, S; Macchia, P; Di Montezemolo, L C

This paper reports late effects and health status of 198 children who had cancer or leukemia diagnosed under 2 years of age and their therapies electively withdrawn. This series (92 neuroblastoma (NBL), 57 Wilms' tumor (WT), 46 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) was followed for 1-12 years after discontinuation of therapy. Thirty-three children were diagnosed before 1973, 92 between 1973 and 1977, and 73 after 1977 in 16 Italian Pediatric Oncology Centers. As of December 1983, 176 children were reported to be alive and without evidence of primary cancer by physicians responsible for their care. One child died from a second primary tumor, two from late recurrences of the primary cancer, and three from other causes; eight were alive with evidence of primary cancer; and eight were lost to follow-up. Kyphoscoliosis was found in 22 children and other musculoskeletal anomalies in 8. Neurological sequelae were observed in 8 of 35 children with ALL treated with radiotherapy (RT) and intrathecal methotrexate. All but one were in continuous complete remission when they developed seizures (three cases), leukoencephalopathy (three cases), or intracerebral calcifications (two cases). One child had cardiomyopathy and subsequently died from cardiac failure: he had received doxorubicin (400 mg/m2) and mediastinal RT (13 Gy) for NBL. Growth impairments were observed in children with NBL and WT.

• Research Organization: Servizio di Epidemiologia dei Tumori dell'Universita di Torino, Italy
• OSTI ID: 6614408
• Journal Information: Med. Pediatr. Oncol.; (United States), Journal Name: Med. Pediatr. Oncol.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN MPOND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMOTHERAPY
CHILDREN
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
DRUGS
GROWTH
HEMIC DISEASES
LEUKEMIA
LYMPHOMAS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY